Have you been thinking about fun holiday ideas for your family? If so, surfing can be an excellent option if you want a unique opportunity to teach your kids something new.
After finding the perfect destination through a reputable surfing travel company like Yeeew, you should put some time into researching what it will take to help your child have a great time on the water. After all, you cannot just expect him or her to jump up on a board and know what to do. If you are unsure where to start, use these tips for guidance.
1. Lower Your Expectations
First things first: You need to lower your expectations if your son or daughter is new to surfing. Even for adults, learning how to surf can be difficult. Furthermore, children usually have shorter attention spans which may cause them to lose interest before you are ready to end the lesson. You should also expect mistakes, and there is nothing wrong with this. However, setting your expectations too high can lead to unnecessary stress for your child which can ruin the experience.
2. Be Patient
With lowered expectations in mind, another key to helping your kid learn how to surf is being patient. It can also be helpful to remind your child to be patient, too. Whenever learning something new, it can be easy to become frustrated when mistakes happen. With both of you practicing intentional patience, you can help motivate him or her to push through the inevitable struggles. On the other hand, if you try to rush your kid, there is a solid chance that doing so will backfire.
3. Go With Friends or Family
Depending on the personality of your kid, it may be challenging to motivate him or her to try surfing for the first time. If this is the case, try bringing your whole family or other friends along to help boost motivation. With encouragement (and peer pressure) from the people closest to him or her, your child may be more motivated to learn. Plus, it can be more enjoyable with the company of other people that you and your kid can both interact with.
4. Teach Swimming Lessons
How well can your son or daughter swim? Although surfing can be a fun and exciting activity and has multiple benefits, safety should always be a top priority. Whenever you are in the water, there is a chance of drowning, and young people are especially vulnerable. As such, you should not even begin surf lessons if your child does not have swimming down. In addition to basic swimming skills, you should also inform your child about various risks to watch out for.
5. Practice the Pop-Up
Whether a child or an adult, learning how to catch a wave for the first time can be challenging. One reason is that there is so much to think about in such a short amount of time. As such, practicing how to stand up on the board, or “pop up” out of the water is a great idea. Because this is one of the most difficult things to do at first, getting it down early can help your child master the waves faster. Remember, practice makes perfect.
6. Stay Warm
There is no doubt about it: The Ocean is cold. Depending on where you go and when it may be extremely cold. When surfing, there are numerous instances when your kid will fall into the water, so keep his or her body temperature in mind. To stay safe, make sure he or she has a proper suit that can provide enough warmth.
Surfing can be a delightful way to enjoy the water for both children and adults. By following these tips, you can help your son or daughter master the skill.
